IC card access control method for biometrics authentication, biometrics authentication method, and biometrics authentication device

ABSTRACT

A biometrics authentication device uses biometrics information to perform individual authentication, and securely registers biometrics information for an authorized agent other than the principal. Within an IC card, registered biometrics information of a principal is verified against biometrics information detected by a detection unit, and when biometrics authentication of the principal is satisfactory, access is permitted to modify data for an authorized agent in the IC card, so that biometrics information for the authorized agent can be securely modified in a card in which is registered biometrics information for the principal. Similarly, illicit modification access of a card in which is registered biometrics information of the principal by a person impersonating an authorized agent can be prevented.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-051725, filed on Feb. 25, 2005, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an IC card access control method for biometrics authentication, biometrics authentication method, and biometrics authentication device, which use characteristics of a portion of a human body to perform individual authentication, and in particular relates to an IC card access control method for biometrics authentication, biometrics authentication method, and biometrics authentication device, to permit individual authentication using biometrics information of an authorized agent other than the principal.

2. Description of the Related Art

There are numerous portions of the human body which can differentiate the individual, such as fingerprints and toe-prints, the retinas of the eyes, facial features, and blood vessels. With advances in biometrics technology in recent years, various devices have been provided which identify biometrics features of a portion of the human body to authenticate individuals.

For example, because blood vessels and prints of the palms and fingers of the hands provide a comparatively large quantity of individual characteristic data, they are suitable with respect to reliability of individual authentication. Blood vessel (vein) patterns in particular remain unchanged throughout life from infancy and are regarded as being completely unique, and so are well-suited to individual authentication. Of this, individual authentication technology based on blood vessel images in the palm of the hand is explained.

First, at the time of registration or of authentication, the user brings his palm into proximity with an image capture device. The image capture device emits near-infrared rays, which are incident on the palm of the hand. The image capture device uses a sensor to capture near-infrared rays rebounding from the palm of the hand. Hemoglobin in the red corpuscles flowing in the veins has lost oxygen. This hemoglobin (reduced hemoglobin) absorbs near-infrared rays at wavelengths near 760 nanometers. Consequently when near-infrared rays are made incident on the palm of a hand, reflection is reduced only in the areas in which there are veins, and the intensity of the reflected near-infrared rays can be used to identify the positions of veins.

The user first uses an image capture device to register vein image data of the palm of his or her own hand on a card. Then, in order to perform individual authentication, the user employs an image capture device to cause the vein image data of his or her own hand to be read. The registered vein image retrieved using the ID of the user is verified against the vein pattern of the vein image for verification thus read to perform individual authentication.

On the other hand, in the field of fingerprint authentication, a method of biometrics authentication of an authorized agent has been proposed in which fingerprint information for an authorized agent other than the principal is registered in advance, and by performing fingerprint authorization of the authorized agent, a single card can be used for biometrics authentication of an authorized agent (see for example Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-067523 (FIG. 6, FIG. 7) and Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2001-202494 (FIG. 2)).

In this technology of the prior art, an authorized agent who has received the consent of the principal can have his fingerprints registered, so that biometrics authentication becomes possible. In this method of the prior art, at the time of card issue, biometrics information for the authorized agent and for the principle are registered based on the consent of the principal.

On the other hand, in actual embodiments there is a demand that the biometrics information of the authorized agent be registered, modified, or deleted on a card on which the biometrics information of the principal has first been registered. Using the technology of the prior art, however, it is difficult to register, modify, or delete the biometrics information of the authorized agent securely to satisfy this demand, and the security of biometrics authentication is impeded. Hence actual use is exceedingly difficult.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Hence an object of this invention is to provide a method of controlling access to a card for biometrics authentication, a biometrics authentication method, and a biometrics authentication device, to securely register the biometrics information of an authorized agent on a card on which biometrics information for the principal has been registered.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method of controlling access to an IC card for biometrics authentication, a biometrics authentication method, and a biometrics authentication device, to securely modify or delete the biometrics information of an authorized agent on a card on which biometrics information for the principal has been registered.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a method of controlling access to an IC card for biometrics authentication, a biometrics authentication method, and a biometrics authentication device, to securely perform modification of the biometrics information of an authorized agent on a card on which biometrics information for the principal has been registered, and to maintain the security of biometrics authentication for the authorized agent as well as the principal.

In order to attain these objects, in a method of access control of an IC card for biometrics authentication of this invention, biometrics characteristic data is detected from a human body and is verified against biometrics characteristic data registered in advance in an IC card to perform individual authentication. The access control method has a step of detecting the biometrics characteristic data from the body; a step of verifying, within the IC card, the detected biometrics characteristic data against biometrics characteristic data for the principal, registered in, advance in the IC card; and a step of permitting, by means of the IC card, access to modify the data for an authorized agent other than the principal when the verification result is satisfactory.

Further, in a biometrics authentication method of this invention, biometrics characteristic data is detected from a human body and is verified against biometrics characteristic data registered in advance in an IC card to perform individual authentication. This authentication method has a step of detecting the biometrics characteristic data from the body; a step of verifying, within the IC card, the detected biometrics characteristic data against biometrics characteristic data for the principal, registered in advance in the IC card; when the verification result is satisfactory, a step of permitting, by means of the IC card, access to modify the data for an authorized agent other than the principal; a step of detecting the biometrics characteristic data from a human body; and, a step of verifying the detected biometrics characteristic data against the biometrics characteristic data of the principal or of an authorized agent, registered in advance in the IC card.

Further, a biometrics authentication device of this invention detects biometrics characteristic data from a human body, verifies the data against biometrics characteristic data registered in advance in an IC card, and performs individual authentication. The device has a detection unit which detects biometrics characteristic data, and an IC card which verifies the detected biometrics characteristic data against biometrics characteristic data for the principal, registered in advance in the IC card. When the verification result is satisfactory, the IC card permits modification of data in the IC card for an authorized agent other than the principal, and at the time of individual authentication detects the biometrics characteristic data from a human body, and verifies the detected biometrics characteristic data against the biometrics characteristic data of the principal or of the authorized agent, registered in advance in the IC card.

In this invention, it is preferable that the permission step have a step of detecting the biometrics characteristic data from the body of the authorized agent, and a step of registering, in the IC card, the biometrics characteristic data of the authorized agent.

In this invention, it is preferable that the registration step further have a step of again detecting the biometrics characteristic data of a human body other than that of the principal, and a step of verifying the detected biometrics characteristic data of a person other than the principal against the again-detected biometrics characteristic data of a person other than the principal.

In this invention, it is preferable that the registration step further have a step of registering, in the IC card, authorization details for the authorized agent other than the principal.

In this invention, it is preferable that the method further have a step, when the verification result is satisfactory, of deleting from the IC card biometrics characteristic data of a person other than the principal, registered in the IC card, in response to a deletion request.

In this invention, it is preferable that the method further have a step, when the verification result is satisfactory, of modifying in the IC card the authorization details registered in the IC card, in response to a modification request.

In this invention, it is preferable that the method further have a step of selecting authorization details for a person other than the principal, and that the registration step has a step of registering, in the IC card, selected authorization details for the authorized agent other than the principal.

In this invention, it is preferable that the selection step have a step of separately selecting authorization details for a person other than the principal, and a step of selecting transaction details for the principal as authorization details for the person other than the principal.

In this invention, it is preferable that the registration step have a step of registering, in the IC card, biometrics characteristic data for the principal and authorized agent, and management data for discriminating and linking the biometrics characteristic data with the principal and authorized agent.

In this invention, it is preferable that the registration step have a step of registering, in the IC card, biometrics characteristic data for the principal and authorized agent, and management data for discriminating and for linking, to the authorization details, the biometrics characteristic data with the principal and authorized agent.

According to this invention, when biometrics authentication of the principal within an IC card is satisfactory, access to modify data of the authorized agent within the IC card is permitted, so that biometrics information for an authorized agent can be modified securely in a card in which biometrics information for the principal is registered. Similarly, illicit modification access of a card, in which is registered biometrics information of the principal, by a person impersonating an authorized agent can be prevented.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the biometrics authentication device of one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the biometrics authentication device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of the biometrics information verification processing of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the blood vessel image in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing of the blood vessel image data in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 shows the configuration of an authentication library and IC card in one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram of biometrics data in the IC card of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a first flow diagram of biometrics authentication and registration processing in this invention;

FIG. 9 is a second flow diagram of biometrics authentication and registration processing in this invention;

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram of the normal transaction processing in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram of operation screens for the registration processing in FIG. 8;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram of operation screens for the modification processing in FIG. 8; and,

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram of operation screens for the deletion processing in FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Below, embodiments of the invention are explained, in the order of a biometrics authentication device, configuration of biometrics authentication, biometrics information registration/authentication processing, and other embodiments.

Biometrics Authentication Device

FIG. 1 is an external view of the biometrics authentication device of one embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the biometrics authentication device of FIG. 1. In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, an automated transaction machine having biometrics authentication functions is explained as an example of a biometrics authentication device.

As shown in FIG. 1, the ATM (automated transaction machine) 6 has, on the front face thereof, a card insertion/ejection aperture 6-4; a bankbook insertion/ejection aperture 6-5; a paper currency insertion/dispensing aperture 6-3; a coin insertion/dispensing aperture 6-2; and a customer operation panel 6-1 for operation and display.

The image capture device 1-1 is provided on the side of the customer operation panel 6-1. The sensor unit 18 explained in FIG. 3 is mounted on the forward side of the main unit 10 of the image capture device 1-1. On the forward portion (on the user side) of the sensor unit 18 is provided a front guide 14. The front guide 14 comprises a sheet of synthetic resin, transparent or substantially transparent. In order to serve the purposes of guiding the hand of the user in the front and of supporting the wrist, the cross-sectional shape of the front guide 14 has a vertical body and, in the top portion, a horizontal portion 14-1 to support the wrist.

A depression 14-2 is formed continuously in the center of the horizontal portion 14-1, to facilitate positioning of the wrist. Further, the sensor unit 18 of the main unit 10 faces rearward and is inclined upward, and a flat portion 22 is provided therebehind.

As shown in FIG. 2, the ATM 6 has a CIP (Card Reader Printer) unit 60 having a card insertion/ejection aperture 6-4; a bankbook unit 64 having a bankbook insertion/ejection aperture 6-5; a paper currency/coin counter unit 66 having a paper currency insertion/dispensing aperture 6-3 and a coin insertion/dispensing aperture 6-2; an attendant operation unit 65; a control unit 67; a customer operation panel (UOP) 6-1 for operation and display; and an image capture device (vein sensor) 1-1.

The CIP unit 60 has an IC card reader/writer 61 which reads and writes the magnetic stripe and IC chip of an IC card 5; a receipt printer 63 which records transactions on a receipt; and a journal printer 62 which prints the history of transactions on journal forms.

The bankbook unit 64 records transactions on pages of a bankbook, and when necessary turns the pages. The attendant operation unit 65 is for operations by an attendant, who can display the state and perform operations upon occurrence of a fault or during inspections. The paper currency/coin counting unit 66 validates, counts, and stores inserted paper currency and coins, and counts and dispenses paper currency and coins in the required quantities.

The control unit 67 communicates with the server 4, and has an ATM application 68 which controls ATM operation and an authentication library (program) 69 for authentication processing. A portion of this ATM application 68 acts in concert with the authentication library 69 to control biometrics authentication guidance screens of the UOP 6-1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the biometrics authentication processing of one embodiment of the invention, FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of the blood vessel image in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing of the verification processing of FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 3, the palm image capture device 1-1 of FIG. 1 is equipped with a sensor unit 18 substantially in the center of the main unit 10. On the forward portion (on the user side) of the sensor unit 18 is provided a front guide 14. The front guide 14 comprises a sheet of synthetic resin, transparent or substantially transparent.

The front guide 14 serves the purposes of guiding the hand of the user in the front and of supporting the wrist. Hence the front guide 14 provides guidance to the user to guide and support the wrist above the sensor unit 18. As a result, the attitude of the palm of the hand, that is, the position, inclination, and size over the sensor unit 18 can be controlled. The cross-sectional shape of the front guide 14 has a vertical body and, in the top portion, a horizontal portion 14-1 to support the wrist. A depression 14-2 is formed continuously in the center of the horizontal portion 14-1, to facilitate positioning of the wrist.

The sensor unit 18 is provided with an infrared sensor (CMOS sensor) and focusing lens 16 and a distance sensor 15 in the center; on the periphery thereof are provided a plurality of near-infrared light emission elements (LEDs) 12. For example, near-infrared light emission elements are provided at eight places on the periphery, to emit near-infrared rays upwards.

The readable region V of this sensor unit 18 is regulated by the relation between the sensor, focusing lens, and near-infrared light emission region. Hence the position and height of the front guide 14 are set such that the supported palm is positioned in the readable region V.

When the hand is extended with palm flat, the palm has maximum area, and moreover is flat, so that when the palm is subjected to image capture in the image capture region V of the sensor unit 18, an accurate vein pattern which can be used in registration and verification is obtained. When the distance from the sensor unit 18 to the palm is within a prescribed range, a sharp, focused image is obtained by the sensor 16 of the sensor unit 18.

Hence as shown in FIG. 3, by supporting the wrist 52 above the sensor unit 18 using the front guide 14, the position, inclination and height of the palm above the sensor unit 18 are made precise with respect to the image capture range of the sensor unit 18, and the user's hand can be guided and supported.

The authentication library 69 of the control portion 67 of the ATM 6, connected to the image capture device 1-1, executes the series of registration processing 30 to 46. For example, the control portion 67 of the ATM 6 has a CPU, various memory, an interface circuit, and other circuits necessary for data processing. This CPU executes the series of registration processing 30 to 46.

Distance/hand outline detection processing 30 receives the distance measured by the distance sensor 15 of the image capture device 1-1, judges whether the palm of the hand or other object is at a distance in a prescribed range from the sensor unit 18 and also detects the outline of the hand from the image captured by the sensor unit 18, and judges from the outline whether the image can be used in registration and verification processing. For example, the palm may not appear sufficiently in the image.

Guidance message output processing 32 outputs to the UOP 6-1 of the ATM 6 a message guiding the palm to the left or right, forward or backward, upward or downward, when the distance measured by the distance sensor 15 indicates that the hand is outside the image capture range, or when the image cannot be used in registration and verification processing. By this means, the hand of the user is guided into position over the image capture device 1-1.

Blood vessel image extraction processing 34 extracts a vein image from the image of the hand when hand outline detection processing 30 judges that an image has been captured with the hand held correctly. That is, grayscale data of the image of the palm such as that of FIG. 5 is obtained through differences in reflectivity. The vein pattern image is an image like that shown in FIG. 4; the data is grayscale data such as that in FIG. 5.

Registered blood vessel search/registration processing 46 registers blood vessel image data in the storage portion of the IC chip in the IC card 5 shown in FIG. 1, and in addition retrieves the registered blood vessel image data R1, R2, R3 corresponding to the individual ID (account number) obtained from the IC card 5. Verification processing 44 compares the blood vessel image data N1 detected in blood vessel image detection processing 34 with registered blood vessel image data N2, performs verification processing, and outputs the verification result, as shown in FIG. 5.

Thus the biometrics authentication device operates by contact-free means, is user-friendly, and handles a large amount of data, so that high-precision individual authentication can be performed.

Configuration of Biometrics Authentication

Next, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are used to explain the configuration of biometrics authentication in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 6 shows the configuration of the authentication library 69 and IC card 5 in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3; FIG. 7 shows the configuration of the data portion in the IC card 5 of FIG. 6.

As shown in FIG. 6, the authentication library (program) 69 provided in the control program 67-1 of the ATM 6 has the distance/hand outline detection processing portion 30, guidance message output processing portion 32, and blood vessel image extraction processing portion 34 shown in FIG. 3.

On the other hand, the IC card 5 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 50 and memory 52. The CPU 50 executes the API (Application Interface), that is, the verification processing 44, and the registered blood vessel image search/registration processing (read/write processing) 46 shown in FIG. 3. The memory 52 has a management data area 54, biometrics data area 55, account information area 56, and history information area 57.

That is, verification processing 44 as well as update status information 58 corresponding to each management data item 54 are provided in the IC card 5. The verification processing 44 performs authentication processing, and when the object of authentication processing is the principal, the update status information 58 (‘1’ through ‘n’) is enabled. When the update status information 58 m in question is enabled, writing of management data 54 and biometrics information 55 can be executed.

On the other hand, if the update status information 58 m in question is disabled, when an attempt is made to write management data 54 and biometrics information 55, an error is returned. That is, when the result of authentication of the principal is satisfactory, writing of biometrics information 55 and management information 54, that is, the registration, modification, or deletion of an authorized agent is possible. By this means security of individual information in the IC card 5 is maintained, and in particular tampering becomes impossible, so that leakage of individual information (biometrics information, management information) to third parties can be prevented.

As shown in FIG. 7, access management information ‘1’ through ‘n’, which associates biometrics data items ‘1’ through ‘n’ in the biometrics data area 55 with account information ‘1’ through ‘n’ in the account information area 56, is stored in the management data area 54.

Access management information (management data) ‘1’ through ‘n’ has the registered name, distinction between principal and proxy (authorized agent), biometrics attributes (for example, whether the registered blood vessel image is for the right hand or the left hand), expiration date for each of the account indexes ‘1’ through ‘n’, monetary limit, and transaction flag (for example, withdrawal, deposit, or transfer).

Each management data record ‘1’ through ‘n’ is associated by an index, in a one-to-one relationship, with the biometrics data items ‘1’ through ‘n’ in the biometrics data area 55. On the other hand, the management data items ‘1’ through ‘n’ and account information are in a one-to-n relationship, with a single management data item associated with a plurality of account information items. That is, a plurality of account information sets are associated with the account indexes ‘1’ through ‘n’ of the management data, and the transaction flags can be used to define transactions permitted for the account (withdrawal, deposit, transfer, and similar).

The account information stores an account number and account type (checking, saving, fixed-term, or similar). The history information area 57 stores transaction history. As transaction history, the transaction date, biometrics data number, account information number, and transaction flag are stored.

Hence in this embodiment of the invention, a plurality of sets of management data and biometrics data are stored in the IC card 5, and biometrics data can be registered, deleted, and modified according to the details of the management data. That is, the biometrics data of the principal and of an authorized agent (called a “proxy”) other than the principal, who has obtained the consent of the principal, can be registered on a single card, and both persons can be authenticated.

As explained below, through verification of the biometrics data of the principal in the IC card 5, the identity of the principal can be confirmed, registration of the biometrics data of the above-mentioned proxy and other access can be permitted, and the security of registration of a proxy and similar using the registration card for the principal can be maintained.

Further, the management data in the IC card 5 can be used to associate the biometrics data with account information. History information can be used to identify a person executing a transaction, even when a plurality of sets of biometrics data are stored.

Biometrics Information Registration/Authentication Processing

Next, biometrics information registration/authentication processing is explained, using FIG. 8 through FIG. 13. FIG. 8 through FIG. 10 are flow diagrams of transactions comprising biometrics information registration/authentication processing; FIG. 11 through FIG. 13 explain registration operation guidance screens of FIG. 8 through FIG. 10.

Below, transaction processing comprising the biometrics information registration/authentication processing of FIG. 8 through FIG. 10 is explained, referring to FIG. 11 through FIG. 13.

(S10) In a customer wait state, the control unit 67 of the ATM 6 displays the IC card insertion screen of FIG. 11 on the UOP 6-1.

(S12) When an IC card 5 is inserted by a customer, the authentication library 69 in FIG. 6 issues a read request to the API 46 of the IC card 5, and reads the management data 54 (see FIG. 7) in the memory 52 of the IC card 5.

(S14) The control unit 67 of the ATM 6 displays the palm image capture screen G2 in FIG. 11 on the UOP 6-1. The control unit 67 of the ATM 6 executes the image capture processing explained in FIG. 3, and acquires biometrics characteristic data.

(S16) The authentication library 69 in FIG. 6 issues a verification request and sends biometrics characteristic data to the API 46 of the IC card 5, and starts verification processing by the IC card 5.

(S18) The API (verification processing) of the IC card 5 in FIG. 6 verifies the biometrics data registered in the management data 54 in memory 52 against the biometrics characteristic data sent together with the verification request, and performs authentication. If the authentication result is satisfactory, the IC card 5 enables the update status information 58 in the memory 52, and releases security. If the authentication result is not satisfactory (NG), a judgment is made as to whether the number of NG attempts is within a prescribed number. If within the prescribed number, processing returns to step S14. If however the number of NG attempts exceeds the prescribed number, an error is returned to the authentication library 69, and the IC card 5 is returned. This fact is then written to the history information 57 of the IC card 5, or is written to an electronic journal (memory) of the control unit 67 of the ATM 6, and processing ends.

(S20) Proceeding to FIG. 9, if on the other hand authentication is OK in step S18, a judgment is made as to whether the authentication OK is for the principal. If the OK is not for the principal, processing proceeds to a transaction by the proxy in FIG. 10.

(S22) On the other hand, if authentication is OK and the person is the principal, the proxy setting/transaction selection key screen G3 of FIG. 11 is displayed on the UOP 6-1. The proxy selection keys select whether to register, modify or delete a proxy; the transaction selection keys select accounts which can be used by the principal for transactions. If the customer presses a transaction selection key, processing advances to a transaction of the principal in FIG. 10.

(S24) If on the other hand the customer presses the proxy selection key, the proxy registration/modification/deletion key screen G4 of FIG. 11 is displayed on the UOP 6-1.

(S26) If the customer presses the proxy registration screen, the proxy palm image capture screen G5 of FIG. 11 is displayed. The control unit 67 of the ATM 6 executes the image capture processing explained in FIG. 3, and acquires biometrics characteristic data. Then, the image capture processing explained in FIG. 3 is again executed, and biometrics characteristic data is again acquired. The authentication library 69 in FIG. 6 again sends a verification request and the biometrics characteristic data thus captured to the IC card 5, and the API of the IC card 5 verifies the two sets of captured biometrics characteristic data against each other, to perform authentication for confirmation. If the authentication result is OK, then the proxy authentication confirmation screen G6 is displayed on the UOP 6-1.

(S28) The control unit 67 of the ATM 6 displays the proxy name input screen G7 of FIG. 11 on the UOP 6-1. When the customer or proxy inputs the proxy name from the screen on the UOP 6-1, the control unit 67 of the ATM 6 displays the account and transaction information input screen G8 of FIG. 11 on the UOP 6-1. This input screen enables selection from among “Separate input”, “Same as principal” and “Same as proxy A”.

(S30) In step S28, if separate input is selected, the number of accounts pointer ‘N’ for selection is initialized to “1”. Here ‘N’ is the number of accounts registered with the principal. Then, the transaction detail selection screen for accounts registered with the principal G9 is displayed on the UOP 6-1. This screen G9 is a screen for selection of transactions (withdrawal, deposit, transfer into account, transfer out of account, or similar) for account A registered with the principal. This selection is repeated for the number of accounts registered with the principal, after which processing proceeds to step S32.

(S32) If in step S28 “Same as principal” or “Same as proxy A” is selected, the transaction information (account information 56 in the IC card 5) for the specified name is used, and the registration detail selection screen G10 is displayed on the UOP 6-1. If however separate selection is chosen in step S30, the registration detail selection screen G10 for the separately selected details (account, transactions) is displayed on the UOP 6-1.

(S34) When in screen G10 the Confirm key is pressed, the corresponding biometrics data and management data are added to the IC card 5. That is, the authentication library 69 in FIG. 6 issues a write request to the API 46 of the IC card 5, requesting that the API of the IC card 5 append the biometrics data 55 and management data 54 (see FIG. 7). Specifically, because the update status is enabled, the IC card 5 writes biometrics data to the biometrics data area 55 of memory 52, and creates and writes management data comprising the selected proxy category, name, account information index, transaction flags, and similar. The media return screen G11 is displayed on the UOP 6-1, and the IC card 5 is returned.

(S36) If on the other hand the Modify key is pressed in step S24, the control unit 67 of the ATM 6 displays the modify proxy input screen G20 of FIG. 12, displaying the names of all proxies registered, on the UOP 6-1. When a customer or proxy inputs the name of a proxy for modification from the screen of the UOP 6-1, the control unit 67 of the ATM 6 displays the account and transaction information input screen G21 of FIG. 12 on the UOP 6-1. This input screen enables selection from among “Separate input”, “Same as principal” and “Same as proxy A”.

(S38) In step S36, when separate input is selected, the number of accounts pointer ‘N’ for selection is initialized to “1”. Here ‘N’ is the number of accounts registered with the principal. Then, the transaction detail selection screen for accounts registered with the principal G22 is displayed on the UOP 6-1. This screen G22 is a screen for selection of transactions (withdrawal, deposit, transfer into account, transfer out of account, or similar) for account A registered with the principal. This selection is repeated for the number of accounts registered with the principal, after which processing proceeds to step S40.

(S40) Next, if in step S36 “Same as principal” or “Same as proxy A” is selected, the transaction information (account information 56 in the IC card 5) for the specified name is used, and the modification detail selection screen G23 is displayed on the UOP 6-1. If however separate selection is chosen in step S38, the modification detail selection screen G23 for the separately selected details (account, transactions) is displayed on the UOP 6-1.

(S42) When in screen G23 the Confirm key is pressed, the corresponding biometrics data and management data are modified in the IC card 5. That is, the authentication library 69 in FIG. 6 issues a write request to the API 46 of the IC card 5, requesting modification of the management data 54 (see FIG. 7) in the IC card 5. Specifically, because the update status 58 of the memory 52 is enabled, the IC card 5 modifies the account information index, transaction flags, and similar for the selected proxy. The media return screen G24 is then displayed on the UOP 6-1, and the IC card 5 is returned.

(S44) If on the other hand the Delete key is pressed in step S24, the control portion 67 of the ATM 6 displays the delete proxy input screen G30 of FIG. 13, displaying the names of all proxies registered, on the UOP 6-1. When a customer or proxy inputs the name of a proxy from the screen of the UOP 6-1, the transaction information (the account information 56 in the IC card 5) of the specified name is used to display the deletion detail confirmation screen G31 on the UOP 6-1, displaying registration details for the proxy.

(S46) When in screen G31 the Confirm key is pressed, the corresponding biometrics data and management data are deleted in the IC card 5. That is, the authentication library 69 in FIG. 6 issues a deletion request to the API 46 of the IC card 5, and because the update status information is enabled, the IC card 5 writes null (all “1”s) to the biometrics data 55 and management data 54 in the memory 52 (see FIG. 7). The media return screen G32 is then displayed on the UOP 6-1, and the IC card 5 is returned.

(S48) If on the other hand a key is not pressed for a prescribed time interval in step S24, or if the Cancel key is pressed, the IC card 5 is returned.

Next, FIG. 10 is used to explain normal transactions by a proxy or by the principal in steps S20 and S22.

(S50) If authentication of the proxy or principal is satisfactory, information for the person who has been biometrics authenticated is printed, as history, on the journal printer of FIG. 2.

(S52) The customer data portion in the IC card 5 for the proxy or principal who has been authenticated is read. That is, the authentication library 69 in FIG. 6 issues a search command to the API 46 of the IC card 5, and account information 56 is read from the account index of the management data 54 (see FIG. 7) in the IC card 5 for the relevant individual.

(S54) The control unit 67 displays the read-out account information on the UOP 6-1. The user selects the account (presses a displayed account) for the transaction from the account information displayed on the UOP 6-1.

(S56) The customer information data portion within the IC card 5 for the authenticated proxy or principal is read. That is, the authentication library 69 in FIG. 6 issues a search command to the API 46 of the IC card 5, and transaction flags for the account index in the management data 54 (see FIG. 7) in the IC card 5 for the relevant individual are read.

(S58) The control unit 67 displays registered transaction details for the read-out account on the UOP 6-1. The user selects the details for the transaction (presses a displayed transaction) from the transaction details displayed on the UOP 6-1. By this means, well-known operations to input a transaction amount, input a transfer destination (in the case of transfer) and similar are performed, communication with the host is executed, and the transaction processing is executed.

(S60) After transaction execution, the transaction history is written to the history information 57 in the IC card 5, or is written to an electronic journal (memory) in the control unit 67 of the ATM 6, and processing ends.

In this way, when biometrics authentication of the principal is satisfactory as a result of verification within the IC card 5, registration of biometrics information for an authorized agent can be performed by the IC card 5, so that biometrics information for an authorized agent can be registered securely on a card on which biometrics information for the principal is registered. Similarly, biometrics information for an authorized agent can be modified or deleted securely on a card on which biometrics information for the principal is registered.

Further, biometrics information for an authorized agent can be modified securely on a card on which biometrics information for the principal is registered, and the security of biometrics information for an authorized agent can be ensured. Further, management data is provided in the IC card, so that use by a plurality of persons is made possible, and registration and deletion of authorized agents, as well as registration and modification of transaction details, can be easily accomplished.

Moreover, verification processing 44 is provided within the IC card 5, and update status information 58 is provided for each set of management data 54. The verification processing 44 performs authentication processing, and when the object of authentication processing is the principal, enables the update status information 58 (‘1’ through ‘n’). If the relevant update status information 58 m is enabled, writing of management data 54 and biometrics information 55 can be executed. After execution of writing, the update status information 58 m is disabled.

On the other hand, if the relevant update status information 58 m is disabled, an attempt to write management data 54 or biometrics information 55 causes an error to be returned. Upon rendering the IC card inactive, the update status information (1 through n) is disabled.

In other words, when the result of principal authentication is satisfactory, writing of biometrics information 55 and management data 54, that is, proxy registration, modification, and deletion, is possible. As a result, security of individual information in the IC card 5 is maintained, and in particular tampering becomes impossible, and leakage of individual information (biometrics information, management information) to third parties can be prevented.

Other Embodiments

In the above-described embodiments, authentication was explained for cases in which vein patterns in the palm of the hand are used for biometrics authentication; but application to authentication using finger vein patterns, to palm-prints and other characteristics of the hand, as well as to authentication using fingerprints, facial features, and to other contact-free authentication methods is possible. Further, automated equipment used in financial operations was explained; but application to automated ticket issuing equipment, automated vending equipment, and to automated machines and computers in other areas, as well as to door opening/closing equipment in place of keys, and to other equipment where individual authentication is required, is possible.

In the above, embodiments of the invention have been explained; but the invention can be variously modified within the scope of the invention, and these modifications are not excluded from the scope of the invention.

When biometrics authentication of the principal is satisfactory, access to modify biometrics information in an IC card for an authorized agent is permitted within the IC card, so that biometrics information for the authorized agent can be modified securely on a card on which is registered biometrics information for the principal. Similarly, illicit modification access of a card, in which is registered biometrics information of the principal, by a person impersonating an authorized agent can be prevented, and biometrics authentication of a plurality of persons can be accomplished securely using a single card, contributing to the widespread adoption of biometrics authentication devices. 

1. An IC card access control method for biometrics authentication, in which biometrics characteristic data is detected from a human body and verified against biometrics characteristic data registered in advance in an IC card to perform individual authentication, comprising the steps of: detecting said biometrics characteristic data from said body; verifying, within said IC card, said detected biometrics characteristic data against biometrics characteristic data of a principal registered in advance in the IC card; and permitting access by said IC card to modify data for an authorized agent other than said principal when the result of said verification is satisfactory.
 2. The IC card access control method for biometrics authentication according to claim 1, wherein said permission step comprises: a step of detecting said biometrics characteristic data from the body of said authorized agent; and a step of registering the biometrics characteristic data of said authorized agent in said IC card.
 3. The IC card access control method for biometrics authentication according to claim 2, wherein said registration step further comprises a step of registering, in said IC card, authorization details for the authorized agent other than the principal.
 4. The IC card access control method for biometrics authentication according to claim 1, wherein said permission step comprises a step of, in response to a deletion request, deleting from said IC card biometrics characteristic data, registered in said IC card, for a person other than said principal.
 5. The IC card access control method for biometrics authentication according to claim 3, further comprising a step of modifying and registering said authorization details registered in said IC card in response to a modification request, when said verification result is satisfactory.
 6. The IC card access control method for biometrics authentication according to claim 3, further comprising a step of selecting authorization details for a person other than said principal, wherein said registration step comprises a step of registering, in said IC card, said selected authorization details for the authorized agent other than the principal.
 7. The IC card access control method for biometrics authentication according to claim 6, wherein said selection step comprises: a step of separately selecting authorization details for a person other than said principal; and a step of selecting transaction details for said principal as said authorization details for the person other than said principal.
 8. The IC card access control method for biometrics authentication according to claim 3, wherein said registration step comprises a step of registering, in said IC card, biometrics characteristic data for said principal and authorized agent, and management data to discriminate and link said biometrics characteristic data with said principal and said authorized agent.
 9. The IC card access control method for biometrics authentication according to claim 3, wherein said registration step comprises a step of registering, in said IC card, biometrics characteristic data for said principal and authorized agent, and management data to discriminate and to link, to said authorization details, said biometrics characteristic data with said principal and said authorized agent.
 10. A biometrics authentication method, in which biometrics characteristic data is detected from a human body and verified against biometrics characteristic data registered in advance in an IC card to perform individual authentication, comprising the steps of: detecting said biometrics characteristic data from said body; verifying, within said IC card, said detected biometrics characteristic data against biometrics characteristic data of a principal registered in advance in the IC card; permitting access by said IC card to modify data for an authorized agent other than said principal when the result of said verification is satisfactory; detecting said biometrics characteristic data from a human body; and verifying, within said IC card, said detected biometrics characteristic data against the biometrics characteristic data of the principal or of the authorized agent registered in advance in said IC card.
 11. The biometrics authentication method according to claim 10, wherein said permission step comprises: a step of detecting said biometrics characteristic data from the body of said authorized agent; and a step of registering the biometrics characteristic data of a person other than the principal in said IC card.
 12. The biometrics authentication method according to claim 11, wherein said registration step further comprises a step of registering, in said IC card, authorization details for the authorized agent other than the principal.
 13. The biometrics authentication method according to claim 10, wherein said permission step comprises a step of, in response to a deletion request, deleting from said IC card biometrics characteristic data, registered in said IC card, for a person other than said principal.
 14. The biometrics authentication method according to claim 12, further comprising a step of modifying and registering said authorization details registered in said IC card in response to a modification request, when said verification result is satisfactory.
 15. The biometrics authentication method according to claim 12, further comprising a step of selecting authorization details for a person other than said principal, wherein said registration step comprises a step of registering, in said IC card, said selected authorization details for the authorized agent other than the principal.
 16. The biometrics authentication method according to claim 15, wherein said selection step comprises: a step of separately selecting authorization details for a person other than said principal; and a step of selecting transaction details for said principal as said authorization details for the person other than said principal.
 17. The biometrics authentication method according to claim 12, wherein said registration step comprises a step of registering, in said IC card, biometrics characteristic data for said principal and authorized agent, and management data to discriminate and link said biometrics characteristic data with said principal and said authorized agent.
 18. The biometrics authentication method according to claim 12, wherein said registration step comprises a step of registering, in said IC card, biometrics characteristic data for said principal and authorized agent, and management data to discriminate and to link, to said authorization details, said biometrics characteristic data with said principal and said authorized agent.
 19. A biometrics authentication device, which detects biometrics characteristic data from a human body and verifies said data against biometrics characteristic data registered in advance in an IC card to perform individual authentication, comprising: a detection unit, which detects said biometrics characteristic data from said body; and an IC card, which verifies said detected biometrics characteristic data against biometrics characteristic data of a principal, registered in advance in said IC card, wherein said IC card, when said verification result is satisfactory, permits access to modify the data of an authorized agent other than said principal, and wherein, at the time of individual detection, said detection unit detects said biometrics characteristic data from said human body, and said IC card verifies said detected biometrics characteristic data against the biometrics characteristic data of the principal or of the authorized agent registered in advance in said IC card.
 20. The biometrics authentication device according to claim 19, wherein said IC card further verifies biometrics characteristic data of a person other than the principal, which is biometrics characteristic data detected again from the body of the person other than the principal, against said detected biometrics characteristic data of the person other than the principal.
 21. The biometrics authentication device according to claim 19, wherein said IC card further registers authorization details for the authorized agent other than the principal in said IC card.
 22. The biometrics authentication device according to claim 19, wherein, when said verification result is satisfactory, in response to a deletion request, said IC card deletes from said IC card biometrics characteristic data for the person other than said principal registered in said IC card.
 23. The biometrics authentication device according to claim 21, wherein, when said verification result is satisfactory, in response to a modification request, said IC card modifies said authorization details registered in said IC card, and registers said modified details in said IC card.
 24. The biometrics authentication device according to claim 21, wherein, in accordance with selection of authorization details for said authorized agent, said IC card registers said selected authorization details for the authorized agent in said IC card.
 25. The biometrics authentication device according to claim 24, wherein, in accordance with the authorization details of said authorized agent selected separately and the selection of transaction details of said principal as the authorization details of the person other than said principal, said IC card registers said authorization details in said IC card.
 26. The biometrics authentication device according to claim 19, wherein said IC card registers, in said IC card, biometrics characteristic data for said principal and authorized agent, and management data to discriminate and link said biometrics characteristic data with said principal and said authorized agent.
 27. The biometrics authentication device according to claim 21, wherein said IC card registers, in said IC card, biometrics characteristic data for said principal and authorized agent, and management data to discriminate and to link, to said authorization details, said biometrics characteristic data with said principal and said authorized agent. 